Reproducer



F. W. MINOR` REPRODUCER.

APPLlcAHoN FILED ocr.4,1921.

Reissued JmL 17, 1922.

FIG

I lNvENToR: FRANK WJvhNoRJ ATTORNEY. y

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W: MINOR, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

'1g i REPRODUCER.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent.

Reissued Jan. 17, 1922.

Original No. 1,375,407, dated April 1S, 1921, Serial No. 385,996, filed June 2, 1920. Appliaaiien iwi' reissue led ctober 4, 1921.

fl 10 all whom t may concern.' y

Be it known that I, FRANK W. MINOR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Richmond., in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reproducers, of which thc following is a specification.

My present invention relates to reproducers for phonographs and the like and has special reference to the means for supporting the stylus arm, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and cheap support which may be readily applied to the reproducer, will facilitate repairs7 and Will permit the stylus and stylus arm to vibrate easil While, at the same time, being suscepti le of ready adjustment to compensate for wear and impart a. desired tension to the stylus and its arm.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a longitudinal section through a reproducer, having its stylus arm supported in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the stylus arm support.

Fig. l is a section through the support taken at a right angle to Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a detail plan View of the blank from which the tension bridge or flex plate is made.

The reproducer Shell l is of the usual form and contains a diaphragm 2 to which the inner end of a stylus arm 3 is centrally attached. In Figs. l and 2, I have shown a portion of aresonator employed by me to amplify and improve the resonance of the sounds given out by the diaphragm.

As shown clearly in Fig. l the stylus arm '40 passes through a slot provided therefor in the side Wall of the resonator and .is of an ogee form to clear the reproducer shell, the outer end ofthe arm being secured to one side of the socket 5 thereby eliminating the 4 5 lugs of specialform Which are now generally employed in order to secure the arm atthe axis or longitudinal center of the socket. TheV socket 5 receives the needle 6 Which is Secured therein by aset screw 6', as will be readily understood, so that the needle may be set at any point of its length to produce a modified or loud sound effect. The inner ,end of the stylus arm is not secured directly to the diaphragm but is connected thereyvith 56 through a small link 60 of substantially Serial No. 505,398.

gooseneck form which tends to overcome the rebound from the sound vibrations, the outer extremity of the link being fitted in an eye 6l at the end of the stylus arm and base 62 of the link bearin g flat sided against the diaphragm While the intermediate portion or shank of the link is curved laterally so that the securing screu7 63 may be inserted Without touching the shank.

The reproducer shell l is provided with a base plate 7 which may be iiXed thereto in any preferred manner, and is provided in its exposed face With a medially located longitudinal groove 8 in which the fulcrum posts 9 of the tension bridge 10 seat for rocking movement. The tension bridge extends directly across the `base end of the socket 5, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and is formed with a central opening 1l, through which the needle or stylus 6 passes, the needle bearing, in its extreme innerl position, against the base plate 7, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It Will be readily seen that the bridge Will tend to oscillate with the socket and the needle as the needle follows the undulations of the record. The tension bridge is held to the base 7. by screws 12 .fitted loosely through openings 13 in the ends of the bridge and engaging internally threaded openings in the ends of the base plate. Obviously by turning the screws home to a greater or less extent, the ends of the fulcrum posts 9 will be caused to bind more or less lirmly in the grooves 8, and the resistance offered to the oscillation of the stylus will be controlled.

The tension bridge or ller` plate may be economically and expeditiously stamped from a sheet metal blank illustrated in Fig. 5. Said blank comprises a. central oblong body from the opposite longer sides of which at the opposite ends thereof, curved arms 14 extend, said arms returning to the lon gitudina-l axis of the body and having the openings 13 in their ends. The openings 13 are in alinement with the central opening 100 ll..y as shown clearly in Fig. 5, so that the needle 6 and the adjusting and retaining screws l2 will be in alinernent. In each 'side edge of the body portion of the bridge, at a point opposite the corresponding arm 105 1 4, I form an incisionrl, the portion of the blank between each incision and the adjacent end of the body of the blank beingl struck up to form a fulcrum, post 9', as Will be readily understood'L From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the.. aeeoinpanyingj` drawings, 1t will be seen that l heve 'provided a very simple and inexgjaensivc device by the use ot which the stylus arm with the needle or' stylus will he irinly supported so that iteen not get out of place but will be perinitted Vto vibrate with the necessary freedom. rThe socket is provided With" a bere opening through its opposite ends so that thefstylus or needle may extend entirely therethrough ,er be adjusted :in the direction of its length, a greater volume of sound being produced when the point ofthe need leV is partly Withdrawn than when it pro jects its full length.

The form of the stylus arm shown in the accompanying dreivings permits` [the full kforce of its vibrations, to be transmitted to .the diephragrn and care is to be observed inniaking the stylus arm that the curved portion'be not made too short and al'irupt. vItiwill be noted, by reference to thedrafiving', that `when the tensioning and retain ingjscreivs or members 12 are tightened, the terminals of the resilient errns or portions -14`Will be sprung toward the base plete or vabutment 7, and, in practice, lsaid screws are tightened sufficiently to bring Ithe terminels oi' @seid arms against said base or abutment, or adjusted to suit the requirements, as shown in the drawing'. th'git the terminals oi the reverse arms or portions 1alextend laterally or transversely lin opposite directions beyond the ends o the yLon,"itudinal body portion of the tension `.bridgeof 4[ieri plate, such terminals of the arms will assnine reverse incline-:l positions, .when the screws l2 ere ti ghtened, es seen in Vthe drawing, thereby creating somewhat et ,a twisting tension between the opposite ternaine-ls of 4the bridge or plate-10. The bridge or plate isfthns bowed te press the 'ulcruni posi-s) tightly inthe ygroove Si ei? the base er aliiitnient, for the transverse edgewisc ribrat-ioii oil? said biiiflec. The bridge is thus .tensioner'l in anV ci'eetive i'iiniiixer, und an additienz-il advantage is obtained. The teifniineils nl: thenriins ift-in assuming oppesite inclii'led pi'isitif is will enal'ilc the-'bridge to be adjusteil vin orifli'.' to deteri'uine the "nor" mal or neutral. po ien of the stylus ariiioi ser land dffijphrziigiii 2. Thus, by ifielitenv ,in-g one sei-ew, the corresponding arn'i ifi is brought under greater tension, tending te swingtlie bridge in one direction, wherces ,vhcnthe other sereiv is tighteneihthe other l ariri Ais:, tensioned.so as to create a tendency toSWlI-lfg the bridgefinv the opposite direc-i tion. yReferringv to Fig.- 1, ifV the nearest 4screw tightened, this creates a tf-mdency to swing the bridge toward the right` i-vherc- ,es it the opposite screw is tightened, there is a tendency to swing the bridge toward the left. The tightening ol" the screws, there- @Wing to the feet 'i t ytore, not only springs the arms 14 toward the base orabntrnent away from the plane of the body portion ot' the bridge or plate 10?,"but also applies correspondingtension to the reverse firms 1.4i to properly position the bridge, arm or bar 3 and diaphragm. In *some cases, the terminals oi the arms 1i may I'even be clamped tightly betweeny the base er abutment and heads of the screws. By havingv the opposite laterally extending terminals ci' the bridge and corresponding portions of the bese or abutment arranged V et acute angles with one another trans versely in reverse directions, during the tightening of the` screws, the bridge can be tensioned.transversely in opposite direction for adjusting it and defining the normal passive position of thebar or arm 3 and diaphragm@ f y Various modifications may be. inade without tdepartingfrom the spiritand scope of the appended claims. As to the connection of the inner end of the stylus arm. to the diaphragm it `will readily be understood 'that il" desired the link 60 may be mede as an integral part of the stylns arrn rather than separate and Asecured in the eye Gl as shown in the drawings ,i-'ilthough the img arovenients are especially useii'nl in sound reproducers, the sainemay d to advantage 1n sound recorders i t. r acoiistif devices for the transmission 'fisonnd Waves.

j thns fully described niy invention, what cl nn es new and desire to secure by T ett-ers if .tent o'fa :the United States, ise- Therombination with a reproduccishell, and.. stylnsoif a bes-e plete on the reprodncer shellvheving projecting ends, e. tensien bridge arranged to oseillete with the stylus havingii. body portion and 'resilient arms at the en -ils ot sa-idbodyportion projecting. Literally and extending; 4back into the lengitudial line oi the body portion beyoudthefends thereof, means for 'Eule-17u11 ingr-.the bridge upon the base plate, adjustiiisr screws 'liti d `loosely tl'noligh said arms aded engagement with the basciplzrtc, 4and a. socket. for the et,hisseciired tothe central i'iortion ofthe lensioi 1r bridge.

ends. ,of

hriillge ilfor sound reproducers it zi.. teil 'non ifi'iinpigiein su l stant,|ally.oblong body haviiig a `een l opening therethrough,curved arms tendiijiguigroni oppositcsides of the body at the opposite ends o'- thesaine and havinp their ,ends provided with openings alined with therentral opening through the body, tnlcriimzposts bent from the end portions ,of `the-body at the sides opposite the respective arms.

blank vfor asound rlprodncer ,ten-

sion plaie consisting of a rectangular sheet hay-ing an opening therethrough. et, its center, and) being 'Further provided with an i11- cision in each side edge, the incisions being located adjacent opposite ends of the plate, and an arm projecting laterally from each side edge of the plate at the end thereo-f remote from the incision therein, the arm being doubled on itself in the plane of the plate and terminating in an eye in spaced relation to the adjacent end of the plate.

4. A sound Wave transmitting bridge having a longitudinal fulcrum portion for the transverse oscillation of the bridge With respect to a base: member, said bridge having resilient end portions terminating beyond the ends of said fulcrum portion in the longitudinal line thereof to be sprung toward or against said base member byA securing means, and said end portions being arranged to assume reverse transverse inclined positions When sprung toward the base member.

5.' A sound Wave transmitting bridge having a longitudinal fulcrurn portion between its ends projecting therefrom to engage a base member for the transverse edgevvise vibration of said bridge about an axis lying in the base member, said bridge having resilient end portions terminating beyond tbe ends of said fulerum portion in the longitudinal line thereof to be sprung toward or against said base member toward said axis by securing means, said end portions being arranged to assume reverse transverse inclined positions for cooperation with said securing means.

6. A sound Wave transmitting bridge having a body portion with longitudinal ful erum means between its ends for the transverse oscillation of said body portion with respect to a base member, said body portion having resilient arms extending laterally from the body portion and provided with terminals extending back to the longitudinal line of said fulcrum means beyond the ends,

of the body portion to be sprung toward or against said base member by securing means.

7. A sound Wave transmitting bridge having a body portion with a longitudinal ful- Crum portion for the transverse oscillation of the body portion with reference to a base member, and a resilient arm extending laterally from each edge of said body portion, said arms being located at the opposite ends of the body portion and having terminals extending back to the longitudinal line o-f said fulcrum y portion beyond the corresponding ends of the body portion to be sprung toward or against said base member by securing means and to assume reverse transverse inclined positions.

8. A sound Wave transmitting bridge having a body portion with a longitudinal fulcrum portion between it-s ends extending therefrom to engage a base member for t-he transverse edgewise vibration of said body portion about an axis lying in the base member, said body portion having resilient arms extending laterally therefrom and provided With terminals extending back to the longitudinal of said fulcrum portion beyond the ends of the body portion to be sprung toward or against said base member by securing means and to move toward said axis when sprung.

9. A sound Wave transmitting bridge having a body portion with a longitudinal fulcrum portion between its ends extending therefrom to engage a base member for the transverse edgevvise vibration of said body portion. about an axis lying in the base membei', and a resilient arm extending laterally from each edge of said body portion, said arms being located at the opposite ends of the body portion and having terminals extending baelr to tbe longitudinal line of said fulcrum portion beyond the corresponding ends of said body portion to be sprung toward or against said base member by securing means and to be moved toward said axis When sprung.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRANK. W. MINOR. 

